BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Patti Smith and Common each will have upcoming shows on Showtime. The network says it will air a miniseries based on Smith’s memoir, “Just Kids.” Common will star in a drama set in Chicago.
Led Zepplin Has Three Albums Chart in the Top 15
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Three albums currently in the top 15 of the Billboard 200 album chart were released nearly a decade before Taylor Swift was even born. Led Zeppelin’s “In Through The Out Door” is number 9 on this week’s chart, while “Coda” is number 12 and “Presence” is number 13. The albums have been reissued with a deluxe treatment.
Mike Pinder of the Searchers Writes Memoir
LONDON (AP) — Singer Mike Pinder of The Searchers has written his autobiography with two parts. He says one part of his book, “The Search For Myself,” is about the band, or what he calls “the bit everyone wants to hear about.” The other part is about his life away from the spotlight, or what he calls “the bit I want people to hear.” The Searchers’ hits include “Needles and Pins,” ”Sugar and Spice” and a version of “Love Potion Number Nine.” Pinder left the band in the 1980s. “The Search For Myself” is out now.
Sam Smith Joins Madame Tussauds Collection
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sam Smith is getting the wax treatment. He unveiled his life-size wax statue at Madame Tussauds (too-SOHZ’) in San Francisco yesterday. Smith told fans to — quote — “Feel free to touch my wax bum!”
Bruce Springsteen Plays Jon Stewart Off
NEW YORK (AP) — Jon Stewart may have gotten the last word. But it was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band who got the last song on Stewart’s version of “The Daily Show.” Make that two. Springsteen and the band played the show off, ending Stewart’s 16-year-run. They did “Land of Hopes and Dreams” — a song requested by Stewart. Then the band launched into the last part of “Born to Run.” As they did, Stewart, his staff and correspondents on the show flooded the stage. They danced, sang — and took lots of videos, photos and selfies. When the music ended, Stewart said a final goodbye. He also got a souvenir: the drumsticks E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg used on the performance.
Lollapalooza Returns to Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — Borns knows that people didn’t necessarily come to Lollapalooza to see him. That’s why he believes the way to win over a festival crowd is to use pinatas and serenade the beejezus out of them. Twenty One Pilots were so excited about playing Lollapalooza, they went to the stage early to make sure it was just right. Nathan Willet and Matt Maust of Cold War Kids say it’s best to prepare for any summer festival by planning for heat, but they admit they’re backward because they wore jackets when it was 90 degrees. Sunday’s shows were shut down for an hour and a half for weather concerns but no bands were cut. Headliners included Paul McCartney, Metallica, Sam Smith and Florence and the Machine.
Cilla Black Dies
LONDON (AP) — Paul McCartney says Cilla Black had “a fine distinctive voice and was always a bit of a laugh.” Ringo Starr says Black was “a good friend” and he will miss her. Black died Saturday at her home in southern Spain at the age of 72. Her spokesman says details of her death will be released after a coroner’s report is completed. Black was a protege’ of Beatles manager Brian Epstein. Black was a much more popular singer in Britain than in the U.S. Her version of “Alfie” is the one used in the original movie, and her song “You’re My World” was a hit in 1964.
You Say You Gotta Have More Cowbell, Do You…
ROYAL OAK, Michigan (AP) — At least 1,021 people rang cowbells to the tune of Blue Oyster Cult’s “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” in an attempt to set a world record. The event was at the Cowbell Classic 10K and 5K run in Royal Oak, Michigan, on Saturday. Officials at Guinness World Records will determine if it’s a new record. The current one is 640 people ringing cowbells in Switzerland in 2009.
Proposed Billy Joel Honor Sparks Debate in New York’s Legislature
HICKSVILLE, N.Y. (AP) — New York lawmakers are arguing whether to rename a quarter-mile road in Billy Joel’s hometown after Joel. They agree he deserves it. They don’t agree about whether an honor like that should go to someone who is still alive. Long Island Republican state senator Jack Martins proposed the bill to rename the street in Hicksville. He says the debate is more of a “philosophical discussion” and doesn’t have anything to do with Joel. Joel’s representative could not be reached for comment.
George Washington University Gives Medal to Tony Bennett
WASHINGTON (AP) — Tony Bennett and his wife, Susan, have been honored by George Washington University for their contributions to the arts. University president Steven Knapp presented them with the president’s medal on Thursday. Bennett’s visual art was on display at the university. The Bennetts have worked to make arts education a priority in public schools.
